Aden Durde’s name has become synonymous with the growing international footprint of the NFL, and his influence is now spawning a new generation of coaches who hope to follow his path. One of those protégés is former quarterback‑turned‑coach George Reynolds, whose journey from the NFL Academy to the sidelines of professional football illustrates how Durde’s legacy is shaping the future of the sport. The last time I spoke with Reynolds was back in 2020, when he was still the inaugural starting quarterback for the pioneering NFL Academy. At that time he was also one of just ten athletes selected to take part in the NFL Pro Bowl skills challenges in Orlando, where they faced off against top American high‑school players.
After that experience, Reynolds headed north to the University of Ottawa in Canada to continue his playing career. However, his passion for the game soon shifted from the field to the bench, and he began to split his time between the Academy, the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, and a stint with the Baltimore Ravens during the most recent offseason. "I always knew coaching was something I wanted to do," Reynolds told Sky Sports. "As an international player, there was a huge barrier to getting to the United States.
I wanted to tear down that wall for the guys coming after me because I’ve lived through the whole process. If I can give someone a better chance than I had, that’s a win for me.
That’s really what sparked my interest in coaching, and the Academy has helped me grow every day. I feel inspired to take the next step and prove I can succeed at the highest level." Durde, who made history in February by becoming the first British coordinator to win a Super Bowl, has long spoken about the "domino effect" his own unlikely rise could create. He believes his story will encourage more British and international coaches to chase similar dreams, and Reynolds is living proof of that theory. "I try to mirror what Aden has done in my own journey because he was relentless," Reynolds explained.
"Every opportunity he got—whether it was an internship or a coaching position—he seized, learned from it, and moved forward. He was unapologetically ambitious, always knowing his worth and fighting for the jobs he deserved. That’s exactly where I want to be, and he’s been an incredible mentor throughout. We keep in touch, and he’s given me practical advice on the steps I need to take, the materials I should prepare, and how to position myself for a coaching role at the next level." Reynolds’ transition to coaching began when he returned from Canada and reached out to his former Kent Exiles teammate James Cook, now Senior Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Browns.
Cook offered Reynolds a chance to assist at an IPP combine in London, an opportunity Reynolds embraced wholeheartedly. "I arrived at 6 a.m. every day, was the first at the table, and stayed until 11 p.m. doing whatever was needed," he recalled.
That work ethic opened the door to a role as assistant tight‑ends coach for the IPP program in the United States—a program originally conceived by Durde—and eventually led to his current position as wide‑receiver and tight‑ends coach at the NFL Academy in Loughborough. "I worked with Steve Hagan, who later became head coach of the Academy," Reynolds said. "We coached Patrick Murtagh, who suffered an injury after signing with the Lions but still managed to make it to the NFL a year later. When Coach Hagan returned to Europe to lead the Academy, he immediately invited me to join his staff." Reynolds was part of the Academy’s inaugural class when the program launched in 2019.
The Academy was designed to give international athletes a clear pathway to U.S. college scholarships and, ultimately, professional opportunities. Since its inception, more than 40 students have earned football scholarships in the United States, and 28 alumni are competing at the Division I level in the 2025‑2026 season. The current roster features athletes from 20 different nationalities, many of whom are learning American football for the first time or have moved abroad to pursue the sport.
Coaching such a diverse group requires a unique communication style. "You have to learn to speak the language of football in a way that resonates with a kid who has never touched a ball before, whether he’s from Nigeria or Australia," Reynolds explained. "If I can break down concepts for a complete beginner, it actually makes coaching seasoned players easier because the fundamentals are crystal clear." Last offseason, Reynolds broadened his experience with a stint in Baltimore, working under tight‑ends coach George Godsey and offensive assistant Danny Breyer—now the Browns’ passing‑game coordinator.
"Being around professional players and seeing how they teach the game was invaluable," he said. "The connections I made there are still strong, and they give me a realistic benchmark of the level I need to reach to coach in the NFL. If I become a recognized name within a coaching staff, it opens doors for the next step in my career." Reynolds is clear about his long‑term goals.
"I love coaching at the Academy and could stay here forever if the situation were right, but I also want to impact a college or NFL team. If that means drawing up plays for a year, I’m willing to do it. My priority is to be in an environment with the right mentors that allow me to grow." His time with the Ravens came through the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship, a route similar to the one Durde used to break into the league.
Durde’s own path began with an internship with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014‑15, followed by a position with the Atlanta Falcons from 2016‑2020, after which he served as defensive‑line coach for Dallas and later as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks under head coach Mike Macdonald in 2024. Durde’s work helped shape one of the league’s most feared defenses and earned him multiple head‑coaching interview invitations this offseason. "It’s not surprising that Durde has succeeded, but many people don’t see how hard he’s worked to get there," Reynolds observed. "He’s been an advocate for international football, traveling the world, coaching, and constantly proving his value.
That’s the inspiration for my own path. You have to demonstrate value to an organization—hard work, dedication, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to earn trust." Durde’s story proves that elite football knowledge can be cultivated outside the United States, and Reynolds stands among the brightest young minds eager to leave their own imprint on an increasingly global game.
As the NFL continues to expand its international footprint, coaches like Reynolds—shaped by mentors such as Durde—will be the ones driving the sport’s next wave of innovation and success.